Mike Maples's Blog – February 2012 Archive (12)

When I study the history of the mountains I think back to what it use be like in different areas of the Park. Hard to imagine Big Greenbrier without much mountain laurel, rhodo and just being big cleared farms. Also, just like in modern times when someone's old farm becomes a subdivision, I chase back who lived in these different creeks and hollows first.

So, I thought we do some trivia with the dates, properties and history within the Brier and the Smokies.

I know that census type blogs aren't all that interesting to read, but they do provide lots of history data for folks who are kin. The point of these type blogs is in the years ahead for those researching to find these blogs and add history or pictures to them. If nothing else to show just how many folks lived inside the park.

This blog not only includes Cosby (Park section today) but all those families from Cosby to the NC line at Big Creek in 1870. I don't have the deeds for all…

We continue the blogs on the families of the Smokies in the different time frames of history. Today, back again to Cades Cove an area that I don't know as well as I do the North end of the Park. But, a place I enjoy hiking a few times a year early in the morning during off-peak times. Again, I'm going to spell the names as they appear on the census, but will make corrections when I'm positive of the names. If I don't list a state after their age it means born in Tennessee.

We continue our series of blogs covering different time period in the Smoky Mountains. Using the census records and some deeds to understanding where these folks lived. Of course, Big Greenbrier is where my Mother's side of the family lived and where I have many ancestors and cousins buried. The census taker seems to have just taken his time and did different sections of this area at different times.

We will also cover some of the surrounding area as well in this blog. Let's start…

Going back in time using the census to see who lived in the Cove during this time period. The 1850 census is a little harder to read and also the Cove isn't it's own district at this time, which means that some names that appear could be from over the ridges back towards Townsend or Miller Creek areas. But, it's good enough for giving out general information. You can always go to the court house with any of these names and find deeds showing the exact areas where they lived.

Well, at least that was the goal on a hike taken with two friends (Mike G and Iris N) this past Monday. Didn't get to start the hike until around 11 am so it was going to be a hard Jedi assignment for us. But, up to the challenge and wanted to show them a few chimney remains that are just off-trail in some laurel and well hidden from most folks.

Turned out to have a dusting of snow on the ground and in the trees as we began the hike. But, it also was melting and dripping on us like…

We continue looking at the Gatlinburg and surrounding areas during the 1860 time period. I can't get my disk drive to work this morning so I'm doing most of this from memory. Anyone wanting to add photos or any corrections is welcome. Again, I'm writing most of these names as they appear in the census.

Jacob Houser (born 1795 PA) and his wife Anna have Caleb Bayles (Bales) now 22 working for them. They may be living up Roaring Fork or over in Big Dudley.

Gatlinburg in the 1860's is just a few big farms running along the river for the most part. So, I'll will also include the surrounding areas in this blog of the folks living here during this time period. Using the census is just the first step in really understanding where and how these folks lived. You also have to pull the land deeds, wills (if any) and other court records for a real view about them. Then, you're still only getting a small piece of the whole story.

Another blog going back in time using the census to see who lived in the Cove. The folks who owned the lands and those sharecroppers who are tenants working the lands. The maps you find today of Cades Cove kinda has all the different time frames over-laping those history maps. So, I continue my time frame blogs to give us a better idea how these places grew over time.

I'm going to spell these names just like they are in the census which might not be always correct. Then, you can take…

In 1860, Big Greenbrier wasn't the big community it turned into by 1900 when over 500 adults and chidren were living there. There were still some creeks with no home places and hunting areas that were still in full old growth. I'm always interested in the folks that lived inside the Park for a few years and then leave for some reason, while other clans stay for 200 years. Let's take a ghost hike back in time.

I know sometimes folks kin to the Shults (many spellings) feel left out when…

For years I've hiked the Smokies backwoods with many different folks. I've hiked it alone, hiked it with county hiking clubs, hiked it with a family and hiked it with some guys. But, this short two and half day hiking trip it was with two single women, including myself being single, "It's all GOOD".

First, I meet GoSmokies member Sharon who I have hiked with during this past fall hike-a-thon. She was coming to the Smokies from Kentucky for her birthday and wanted to see waterfalls and…

Got a feeling that Mike Gourley is going to start feeling better. We all know how "Tombstone" feels about seeking out old cemeteries in the Park. But, what about a grave or two that's not in any cemetery book? I've made several hikes over the years looking for the old Thomas Fox and his wife's grave off the Old Settlers Trail on the upper waters of Noisy Creek. An area that use to be called Ramsey Town because of all the Ramsey's that lived along the creek.